Defunding the police, rising hate crimes and the ethics of the COVID vaccine, this week

Bill Radke reviews the week's news with the founder of the South Seattle Emerald and contributor to the Seattle Times, Marcus Harrison Green, host of Civic Cocktail Joni Balter, and producer and host for The Seattle Channel, Brian Callanan.

This week Mayor Durkan signed the 2021 city budget. Calling it a "collaborative work", the budget defunded the Seattle Police Department by 15 to 20%, and split up the Mayor's proposed $100 million investment in communities of color. The Mayor says she believes she and the city council have "turned a corner". But what exactly does that mean?

While the city budget has now been passed, there are more negotiations on the horizon. The Seattle Police Officers Guild's contract with the City of Seattle is up at the end of this year. What will negotiations look like for the new contract? Will the Guild agree with changes to reform the police department?

Plus, reports of hate crimes are way up in King County. County prosecutors have received 51 cases this year, compared to 30 in 2018 and 38 last year. Nationwide, the FBI says hate crimes are at their highest level in more than a decade. What's caused this increase? And what can Seattle residents and politicians do to help bring those numbers back down?

Also, there is now an app for COVID-19. Or at least to track it. This week, Governor Inslee asked Washingtonians to use a new free phone app that will alert you if you're exposed to someone who's tested positive for the virus. The app is called WA Notify. Some are concerned about privacy , or that the app won't actually help slow the spread of the virus. Do they have good reason to be?

That's not the only new COVID news this week - it appears there is a COVID vaccine on the horizon. King County public health officer Jeff Duchin has said that it’s possible doses might be available by the end of this month. The state Department of Health is working to refine its interim plan to distribute vaccines, which was first published in October, and additional details are due to the CDC Friday. There's general agreement that first responders and healthcare workers should get the vaccine first. But who comes next?

Finally, we ask our panelists what's making them smile. And, spoiler alert, Bill reveals a deep love for Minnesota Loons. And no, we don't mean the soccer team.